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Our coffee arrived just then.

“Well, I’m glad you found a job. But make sure you don’t overwork yourself,” I said.
“Thanks. I’ve caused my parents a lot of grief over the years, so doing this much feels like the least I can do to repay them.”
“Is that so…?”

I never had any real family ties, so the idea of filial piety was something I couldn’t relate to. Even so, I could tell from his tone that he was pushing himself too hard. It left me feeling uneasy, but we weren’t close enough for me to pry. So, I kept quiet and took a sip of my coffee instead.

“And while we’re here, I want to thank you, Miss Hiyuki. You’ve been a real benefactor to me, even if inviting you out like this might have been a bit much.”
“Benefactor?” I blinked, confused. When did I ever do something worthy of that?

“Yeah. A year ago, I was completely useless. I couldn’t land a job, ended up as a NEET, and honestly believed I’d failed at life. Eventually, I just buried myself in games to escape.”

Mr. Devta gave a self-deprecating smile, though a faint brightness lingered in his expression.

“I tried to keep that part of me hidden during our offline meet-up last year, but you saw right through it. Even though you weren’t feeling well and had a bit too much to drink, you still showed concern. You told me I seemed like I was bottling everything up and that I should let myself breathe once in a while.”

Wait, did I really say something like that? My memory of that night was pretty fuzzy. I only recalled trying to chat with Mr. Devta to distract myself after vomiting in the restroom.

“I told you the same story back then, and you said something like, ‘Isn’t that fine? Everyone has their own struggles. The pain you’re going through now is something only you can truly understand. It’s okay to run away if you need to heal.’ Then you said, ‘If you’re good at gaming, why not try doing something with it? It costs nothing to try.’ That was the push I needed to face myself. Thanks to that, I’ve finally found a job.”

“Aaargh, I actually said all that? What kind of cheesy nonsense was I on?!”

Even if I’d been drunk, I couldn’t believe I’d gone off with something that sappy. If I could go back, I’d smack that version of me upside the head and lecture them for hours.

“That’s why, Miss Hiyuki, you’re my benefactor.” Mr. Devta smiled brightly, but to me, it felt like another cringe-worthy chapter had been added to my book of shame.

Flushed with embarrassment, I downed the rest of my coffee in one big gulp.

◆◇◆◇

“Oh, looks like the snow finally let up.”

We continued chatting for a while, swapping stories about our time in the game, my part-time job, and some insider tidbits from the dev side. As the warm glow of sunset began to blanket the streets, we figured it was time to call it a day.

The gentle ring of the café’s door chime followed us out into the evening. The snow piled on the ground sparkled faintly under the light of the setting sun, tinged with a soft scarlet hue.

“Now, doesn’t this look like true scarlet snow, Hiyuki?”
“—Hmm.”

Squinting against the amber light, Mr. Devta dropped a pun so lame I didn’t bother reacting. Instead, I stepped closer, stood on my toes, and gently wrapped the scarf I’d been holding around his neck.

“Huh? What’s this…?”
“I didn’t have anything prepared to celebrate your new job. This scarf might not be much, but it’s something I just finished knitting and wore for the first time today. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to have it.”
“W-wait, really? Are you sure? But if I take it, won’t you—”
“It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of yarn left, and I even have a few others I made for practice.”

I couldn’t afford fancy scarves or stylish knits, so I usually just made my own with cheap yarn from the dollar store.

“Thank you! I’ll treasure it forever!”
“Uh, it’s really not that big of a deal, you know…”

Still, was getting a hand-knit scarf from another guy really worth all that excitement?

Mr. Devta smiled brightly for a moment as we walked side by side. Then, his expression shifted. He stepped ahead, stopped, and looked down at me with a serious gaze, as though something had suddenly come over him.

“Miss Hiyuki, what do you plan to do from here?”
“Plan…? I mean, I was just going to head home and carry on with the usual.”
“No, I meant your life. Your future. Work and everything.”

That came out of nowhere. What a loaded question.

“Honestly, I’ve got nothing solid right now. I’m studying for college entrance exams, but that’s about it.”

Mr. Devta fell silent. Then, with a sudden determination, he reached out and took my hands.

“If… if you’re interested, would you consider working at Technos Crown with me? Even part-time is fine. You’re already pretty well-known, and if I recommend you, there’s no doubt you’d get hired.”

Technos Crown, huh… Truthfully, I preferred to keep work and hobbies in separate lanes. But maybe my hesitation showed on my face, because Mr. Devta held my hands a little tighter.

“E.H.O. has been running for five years already. That’s usually the point where most MMOs get reviewed for profitability. Thankfully, Eternal Horizon is still in the black, but revenue has been slipping compared to its peak. Things are stable now, but a couple years down the line… who knows? Even so, I believe there’s still huge potential left. If those of us who really love the game put our minds together, I think we can make it thrive again. So, would you consider building the next era of Eternal Horizon with me?”

He spoke with so much passion that it almost felt like a love confession. It was a tempting offer, but too big a decision to make on the spot.

“This is… a lot to take in. I need a bit of time to think about it. Is that alright?”

Hearing my answer, Mr. Devta released my hands, his expression shifting back to reality like someone waking from a vivid dream.

“Ah… right. Sorry. I got ahead of myself. I know it was a heavy suggestion.”
“It’s fine. I know you only brought it up because you care. And honestly, I’m thankful. You’ve opened up a whole new possibility for me.”
“Still, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe I got too excited… part of me wondered if this was all a dream. Like I’d wake up and still be that useless NEET, and none of this would be real. Maybe I’d just imagined everything from inside some mental hospital. It’s all kind of a blur.”

He spoke with a far-off look in his eyes, as if trapped between memories and doubt.

“The butterfly dream, huh? Whether it’s a dream of being a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming of being us… I think it’s better to believe the happy version is the real one.”
“…Yeah, maybe you’re right. That dream I told you earlier… that’s what I’m chasing. But what about you, Miss Hiyuki? What’s your dream?”

His gaze was sincere, and I paused to collect my thoughts.

“…I don’t think I need much.” I looked up at the snow-covered streets glowing under the sunset. Tiny snowflakes danced in the wind, and I whispered, “My rose-colored dream is—”

Before I could finish, a curtain of white mist consumed my vision.

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